Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted below-normal rainfall in Odisha during the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season.
Addressing the media, IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the seasonal rainfall (June to September 2026) across the country is likely to be 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ±4%. This points to a higher probability of below-normal rainfall for the country as a whole.
Dr. Mohapatra stated that Central India, Southern Peninsular India, and Northwest India are expected to receive below-normal rainfall. While some pockets in East-Central India and East India may receive normal to above-normal rainfall, Odisha is likely to experience below-normal rainfall this monsoon season.
According to IMD DG, there is a probability that, during the Southwest Monsoon season, the seasonal rainfall across the country will be 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA), with a model error margin of plus or minus 4%. This implies that during the 2026 monsoon season—that is, from June to September—there is a higher probability of the country receiving below-normal rainfall.”
“During the June to September 2026 period, seasonal rainfall across most parts of the country is most likely to be below normal, with the exception of certain areas in Northwest and Northeast India, the eastern parts of the Southern Peninsula, some adjoining areas of East-Central India, and a few isolated pockets of East India, where rainfall is expected to range from normal to above normal”, he maintained.
He also stated, “In the month of June, during June 2026, average rainfall across the country is likely to be below normal—that is, less than 92% of the long-period average… This excludes North-Western India, North-Eastern India, parts of the Southern Peninsula, and some pockets of Central India, where rainfall is expected to range from normal to above normal.”
On the temperature front, maximum temperatures are likely to remain above normal in most parts of the country during June. The IMD has warned that the number of heatwave days will be higher than normal in many parts of Odisha along with Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and pockets of other states.
He further said, “During June 2026, the number of ‘heatwave days’, or days of extreme heat is projected to be higher than normal in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, as well as in specific pockets of Maharashtra, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Conversely, in Rajasthan and Jharkhand, the number of heatwave days is expected to be lower than normal.”
Minimum temperatures are also likely to stay above normal over most parts of the country. The forecast assumes significance for Odisha as the state is expected to receive normal monsoon rainfall even as several other regions face rain deficiency. Authorities have been advised to prepare accordingly for both monsoon and heatwave conditions.
